North took his 6 Nations tally to 15 with his try double and took his Wales tally up to 30 as he struck either side of half-time. Ireland staged a strong second-half fight back, but 170 telling tackles from the magnificent Welsh defence kept them at bay.
England referee Wayne Barnes ruled out a try by Irish skipper from a driving line-out at a crucial time in the second half. His view was that Irish centre Robbie Henshaw had crossed in front of his skipper at the maul as he joined from the side.
Wales cleared their lines and went up field to conjure up the vital third try from Roberts. That came after some incredible pressure in the Irish 22, which culminated in a charge down by Taulupe Faletau on a Johnny Sexton chip kick, allowing Roberts to pick up the pieces.
Having given his side a vote of confidence after successive defeats to England and Scotland, head coach Rob
Howley can feel rightly proud of the performances put in by all 23 players. Ireland, the fourth best side in the world and the conquerors of the mighty All Blacks some four months ago, came looking for the win that would keep them on track for a tilt at England or the title next week in Dublin.
But they were immediately put on the back foot by Wales’ aggressive defence in which Sam Warburton was outstanding. Skipper Alun Wyn Jones also upset their usually smooth line-out and it was Wales who were able to head into the break with an 8-6 lead.
Sexton gave the Irish the lead with a seventh minute penalty before North rounded off a free flowing Welsh move with a barnstorming final 10 metres that saw him carry two Irishmen over the line with him. Leigh Halfpenny couldn’t convert, but Wales had the momentum they needed.
Paddy Jackson, on for Sexton while he was having an HIA, made it 6-5 to Ireland with a 27th minute penalty, but Halfpenny sent Wales into the break with the lead after he kicked a penalty following the sin-binning of Sexton on the stroke of half-time. The Irish No 10 was deemed guilty of killing the ball on his line after Wales had almost got over – the second successive penalty in the ‘red zone’.
Halfpenny punished that offence and then converted North’s second try four minutes after the break to make it a 10 point difference while Ireland were down to 14 men. North’s second score came after Halfpenny had forced Conor Murray into touch at the right corner as he faithfully followed a neat Rhys Webb chip into the Irish 22.
The forwards drove the line-out forward and then Webb fed North on the blindside for a simple run in. That gave Wales the perfect start to the second half, but the gap was cut to a single score when Sexton kicked his second penalty on 57 minutes.
Ireland upped the tempo and locked Wales in their own half for lengthy periods. It took some magnificent defending, and then Mr Barnes’ decision on the Best try, to keep the Welsh line intact.
But they stayed strong, stood tall and came up with the vital third try two minutes from the end. It was nothing less than they deserved and they can now go to Paris to meet the French next week with their heads high as they aim for a sixth successive win over Les Bleus.
